Colts notes: Coach Rob Chudzinski is 'a great hire'

Dec 22, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Rob Chudzinski during the game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports(Photo: Robert Deutsch Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY)

As it turns out, the Colts jumped the gun on the NFL's free-agent market.

Their first major acquisition: Rob Chudzinski.

"I've known Chud for a long, long time. A great hire for us,'' coach Chuck Pagano insisted as he addressed the media during the on-going NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. "Chud's going to be a great resource.''

The Colts hired Chudzinkski as a special assistant to Pagano Feb. 8, six weeks after he was fired following a one-year stint as head coach of the Cleveland Browns.

Although Chudzinski's title is vague, Pagano emphasized the accompanying responsibilities are extensive.

"He'll be heavily involved with a lot of things that I do on a daily basis and be a great resource for me,'' Pagano said. "He's going to be a great resource for our entire coaching staff . . . our offensive staff, our defensive staff, special teams, game-day management.

"He's a brilliant guy.''

Chudzinski's background is rooted in offense, and questions surfaced how his presence might infringe on coordinator Pep Hamilton.

"You always know those questions are going to come up,'' conceded general manager Ryan Grigson. "But we talked to Pep. It comes from a comfort standpoint where Chuck has known Chud and what he's made of forever.''

Adding Chudzinski was more attractive considering it probably didn't cost the Colts a significant contract. He's reportedly due $10.5 million from the Browns. Whatever the Colts are paying reduces Cleveland's obligation.

"Here's a guy who was a head coach and he's basically a free-agent pickup for us at a reduced rate,'' Grigson said. "It's just good football sense to have a guy like that and to add him.''

Pagano's first experience with Chudzinski was in 1986 when Pagano was in his third year as a graduate assistant at the University of Miami and Chudzinski was a freshman tight end. They were part of the Hurricane's coaching staff from 1995-2000, and again with the Browns in 2004.

"We had an opportunity to add another piece to the puzzle which makes our team better, gets us one step close to our ultimate goal, and that's hoisting a Lombardi (Trophy) and hopefully participating in Super Bowl XLIX in Phoenix,'' Pagano said.

Michael Sam is expected to draw an overflow crowd when he meets the media Saturday. The Missouri defensive end recently announced he's gay, and subsequent speculation has focused on whether he would be welcome in NFL locker rooms.

"The Colts never have and never will discriminate based on sexual orientation. We look at the player. We'll evaluate him just like we evaluate everybody else. If he can help our team, help us win football games, he'll be more than welcome.''

On the mend

Grigson said virtually all of the players recovering from injuries are "going in the right direction to make training camp or to be close to making training camp.''

Wayne usually spends his offseason working out in South Florida, but has been rehabbing at the Colts' Northwestside complex. He recently returned to his offseason home.

"You can thank the snow gods for that,'' Pagano said with a smile. "We had him a lot longer up here than we thought we would. He was grinding. Like I said, he put more time in there than our trainers did.''

Pagano anticipates Wayne, 35, making a full recovery.

"Count on it,'' he said.

Call Star reporter Mike Chappell at (317) 444-6830. You can follow him on Twitter at @mchappell51